Multi-positionable storage-display box

ABSTRACT

A box for storing and displaying an item has a top panel that serves as a protective cover during storage and as ornamental dress during various modes of display. The panel includes a logo badge that is prominently displayed atop the package during storage and prominently displayed upright and forwardly facing during display. The logo badge cooperates with a magnet to maintain the box in its storage mode when not being used to display the item.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to storage-display boxes which provide protection for an item during shipment and storage and which provide a means for displaying the item at the point of retail sale.

BACKGROUND

Numerous items intended for retail sale are packaged in protective boxes during manufacturing for storage before sale and for shipment to the point of retail sale. These same boxes are often used at the point of retail sale to display the item. Boxes of the prior art have numerous failings which have rendered them less than optimal for serving both of these purposes.

To properly and fully serve both of these purposes, such a boxes would need to be;

-   -   a) Capable of securely encasing and protecting the item during         storage and shipment;     -   b) Adapted for being easily and consistently opened, closed and         reopened in a manner that does not damage the box or require         unpacking and repacking of the item;     -   c) Configured to impressively display the item when opened;     -   d) Adapted for numerous display configurations according to the         intended manner of display;     -   e) Attractive in its storage mode and all of its display modes         without distracting from the attractiveness of the displayed         item;     -   f) Equipped with means which is properly oriented and positioned         to show the source of the items to prospective purchasers at a         glance, whether the box is in the storage mode or any of its         display modes; and     -   g) Equipped with simple and positive means for maintaining the         box it its storage mode when not being used to display the item.

To date, boxes have failed to effectively serve both purposes of protecting the items during storage and shipment and providing an optimal display for the item at retail by failing to include some or all of these features. There exists therefore the need for a box which includes the above-listed features, in total or in sub-combinations, and is thereby optimal for protecting an item during storage and shipment and for displaying the item at the point of retail sale, and fulfilling this need is among the objects of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is storage-display box which provides protection for an item during shipment and storage and which provides a means for displaying the item at the point of retail sale. The invention is capable of securely encasing and protecting the item during storage and shipment. The invention is adapted for being easily and consistently opened, closed and reopened in a manner that does not damage the box or require unpacking and repacking of the item. The invention is configured to impressively display the item when opened. The invention may be adaptable for numerous display configurations according to the intended manner of display. The invention is attractive in its storage mode and all of its display modes without distracting from the attractiveness of the displayed item. The invention is equipped with means which is properly oriented and positioned to show the source of the items to prospective purchasers at a glance, whether the box is in the storage mode or any of its display modes. And the invention is equipped with simple and positive means for maintaining the box it its storage mode when not being used to display the item.

The present invention may be embodied in a box for storing and displaying an item having a top panel that serves as a protective cover during storage and as ornamental dress during various modes of display. The panel may include a logo badge that is prominently displayed atop the package during storage and prominently displayed upright and forwardly-facing during display. The logo badge may cooperate magnetically with a retainer to maintain the box in its storage mode when not being used to display the item.

Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with more specificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings of an exemplary embodiment provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, the components in which are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage and display box according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the box of FIG. 1 in its storage mode;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the box of FIG. 1 in its storage mode;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the box of FIG. 1 in its storage mode, the left side view being a mirror image thereof,

FIG. 5 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its storage mode;

FIG. 6 is a front cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its storage mode;

FIG. 7 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its first display mode;

FIG. 8 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its second display mode;

FIG. 9 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in transition between its second display mode and its third display mode;

FIG. 10 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its third display mode;

FIG. 11 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its fourth display mode;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the box of FIG. 1 in its third display mode;

FIG. 13 is a left side partial cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its storage mode, the right side view being a mirror image thereof,

FIG. 14 is an exploded right top perspective view of the box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a partially exploded left top perspective view of the box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a storage and display box according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 16 in its storage mode;

FIG. 18 is a left side cross section through the box of FIG. 1 in its primary display mode;

FIG. 19 is a front view of the box of FIG. 16 in its primary display mode; and

FIG. 20 is a partially exploded left top perspective view of the box of FIG. 16

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 15, where there is shown a multi-positionable storage-display box 100 according to just one of the infinite number of possible embodiments of the present invention. Box 100 has a base portion 102, a front cover portion 104 and a rear cover portion 106.

Base portion 102 has a horizontal bottom panel 110, an upstanding front panel 112, an upstanding rear panel 114, an upstanding left panel 116L, and an upstanding right panel 116R. The upstanding panels are rigidly affixed to the horizontal bottom panel in a rectilinear arrangement to form a chamber 120 for containing an item to be stored and displayed.

The upstanding left and right panel 116L and 116R each have an arcuate upper edge, 122L and 122R respectively, and each have a pair of arcuate grooves disposed on the panel's external surface adjacent to and parallel to its arcuate upper edge; grooves 124LF and 124LR being disposed on panel 116L and grooves 124RF and 124RR being disposed on panel 116R.

The front cover portion 104 has a horizontal front top panel 126, a downwardly extending front face panel 130, a downwardly extending front left panel 132, and a downwardly extending front right panel 134. The downwardly extending front panels are rigidly affixed to the horizontal front top panel in a rectilinear arrangement that is adapted to surround a forward portion of base portion 102. Each of the downwardly extending front left and front right panels have an inwardly directed front post 136L and 136R.

The rear cover portion 106 has a horizontal rear top panel 146, a downwardly extending rear face panel 150, a downwardly extending rear left panel 152, and a downwardly extending rear right panel 154. The downwardly extending rear panels are rigidly affixed to the horizontal rear top panel in a rectilinear arrangement that is adapted to surround a rearward portion of base portion 102. Each of the downwardly extending rear left and rear right panels have an inwardly directed rear post 156L and 156R.

The cover portions are affixed to the base portion by the front and rear posts being captured within the associated one of the arcuate grooves such that each of the cover portions is slidable relative to the base portion independently of the other of the cover portions along an arcuate path and along the arcuate upper edges.

Front cover portion 104 is affixed to the forward portion of base portion 102 by the front posts 136L and 136R being captured within arcuate grooves 124LF and 124RF, respectively, such that front cover portion 104 is slidable relative to the base portion independently of rear cover portion 106 along the arcuate path defined by grooves 124LF and 124RF and arcuate upper edges 122L and 122R.

Rear cover portion 106 is affixed to the rearward portion of base portion 102 by the rear posts 156L and 156R being captured within arcuate grooves 124LR and 124RR, respectively, such that rear cover portion 106 is slidable relative to the base portion independently of front cover portion 104 along the arcuate path defined by grooves 124LR and 124RR and arcuate upper edges 122L and 122R.

Front top panel 126 of front cover portion 104 has affixed thereon a magnetically attractable badge 158 embossed with the logo 160 of the item's manufacturer. The badge is centrally positioned and prominently displayed atop box 100 when in its storage mode, as seen best in FIG. 2. The badge is disposed on panel 126 such that it extends rearwardly and overlaps rear top panel 146, to which it is not affixed.

Rear top panel 146 of rear cover portion 106 has either affixed thereto or embedded there-within a magnet 162 which is position to align with badge 158 during the storage mode and, by magnetic coupling with the badge, to retain the front and rear cover portions together in the storage mode when box 100 is not being used to display the item.

As seen in FIGS. 7 through 12, a plurality of display modes are enabled by the variable positioning of cover portions 104 and 106 relative to base portion 102. Badge 158 and logo 160 remain prominently displayed upright and front facing during the various modes of display. Additionally, the external surfaces of cover portions 104 and 106 may be made more ornamental or of a more impressive material that the remaining surfaces of the box. These external surfaces of the cover portions may be more luxuriously embossed with a decorative pattern, such as leather-graining or texturing, may be painted, may be plated or covered with a material with is more decorative or gives an impression of expense. As these surfaces remain most prominent during the various display modes and in fact hide the remaining surface to varying degrees during the various display modes, they eliminate the need to similarly decorate the remaining surfaces and allow less expense in the manufacturing of base portion 102 that might otherwise be required to obtain an equivalent ornamental effect in a box of a differing configuration.

While numerous additional display configurations may be arranged, FIG. 7 shows a first display mode in which front cover portion 104 is disposed at an angle towards viewers who look at the box from a frontal overhead position. Other things packed inside the box that are preferably hidden from view during display, such as a user manual or a price tag, may be kept hidden from view under unopened rear cover portion 106. FIG. 8 shows a second display mode in which both cover portions 104 and 106 are disposed at angles.

FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively, show transition to and disposition in a third display mode wherein cover portions 104 and 106 are positioned surrounding and conforming to the frontal and rear portions, respectively, of base portion 102. The ornamental external surfaces of the cover portions previously described now become the facial and external surfaces of the box and badge 158 and logo 160 take a most prominent position relative to the displayed item, as seen in FIG. 12.

FIG. 11 shows a fourth display mode similar to the third display mode except that only front cover portion 104 is positioned surrounding and conforming to the frontal portion of the base portion and, as in the first display mode of FIG. 7, other things may be packed inside the box that are preferably hidden from view during display.

As seen in the figures, cover portions 104 and 106 serve both as a protective cover during storage and as ornamental dress during display. And the front top panel 126 remains aiming towards the viewer with its badge 150 and logo 160 upright and prominently displayed atop of or frontally on the box during storage and the various modes of display.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 16 through 20, where there is shown a multi-positionable storage-display box 200 according to a second of the infinite number of possible embodiments of the present invention. Like 200-series reference numerals of the second embodiment are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the second embodiment to those 100-series reference numerals used in conjunction with the first embodiment.

Box 200 has a base portion 202, a front cover portion 204 and a rear cover portion 106.

Base portion 202 has a horizontal bottom panel 210, an upstanding front panel 212, an upstanding rear panel 214, an upstanding left panel 216L, and an upstanding right panel 216R. The upstanding panels are rigidly affixed to the horizontal bottom panel in a rectilinear arrangement to form a chamber 220 for containing an item to be stored and displayed.

The upstanding left and right panel 216L and 216R each have an arcuate upper edge, 222L and 222R respectively, and each have a pair of arcuate grooves disposed on the panel's external surface adjacent to and parallel to its arcuate upper edge; grooves 224LF and 224LR being disposed on panel 216L, with corresponding right-side grooves being disposed on panel 216R.

The front cover portion 204 has a horizontal front top panel 226, a downwardly extending front face panel 230, a downwardly extending front left panel 232, and a corresponding downwardly extending front right panel. The downwardly extending front panels are rigidly affixed to the horizontal front top panel in a rectilinear arrangement that is adapted to surround a forward portion of base portion 202. Each of the downwardly extending front left and front right panels have an inwardly directed front post, front left post 236L extending from front left panel 232, and a corresponding front right post extending from the front right panel, just as in the first embodiment.

The rear cover portion 206 has a horizontal rear top panel 246, a downwardly extending rear face panel 250, a downwardly extending rear left panel 252, and a downwardly extending rear right panel 254. The downwardly extending rear panels are rigidly affixed to the horizontal rear top panel in a rectilinear arrangement that is adapted to surround a rearward portion of base portion 202. Each of the downwardly extending rear left and rear right panels have an inwardly directed rear post 256L and 256R.

The cover portions are affixed to the base portion by the front and rear posts being captured within the associated one of the arcuate grooves such that each of the cover portions is slidable relative to the base portion independently of the other of the cover portions along an arcuate path and along the arcuate upper edges.

Front cover portion 204 is affixed to the forward portion of base portion 202 by the front posts being captured within the front arcuate grooves as in the first embodiment, such that front cover portion 204 is slidable relative to the base portion independently of rear cover portion 206 along the arcuate path defined by the arcuate grooves and arcuate upper edges.

Rear cover portion 206 is affixed to the rearward portion of base portion 202 by the rear posts being captured within the arcuate grooves as in the first embodiment, such that rear cover portion 206 is slidable relative to the base portion independently of front cover portion 204 along the arcuate path defined by the arcuate grooves and arcuate upper edges.

Differently from the first embodiment, the rear top panel 246 of rear cover portion 206 of this second embodiment has affixed thereon a magnetically attractable badge 258 embossed with the logo 260 of the item's manufacturer. The badge is centrally positioned and prominently displayed atop box 200, like on the first embodiment, when in its storage mode, as seen best in FIG. 16. The badge is disposed on panel 246 such that it extends forwardly and overlaps front top panel 226, to which it is not affixed. On the underside of the overlapping portion of badge 258 is embossed a second logo 266, which is hidden from view when the box is in its storage mode.

Front top panel 226 of front cover portion 204 has either affixed thereto or embedded there-within a magnet 262 which is position to align with badge 258 during the storage mode and, by magnetic coupling with the badge, to retain the front and rear cover portions together in the storage mode when box 200 is not being used to display the item.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show the primary display mode similar of box 200. Front cover portion 204 is positioned surrounding and conforming to the frontal portion of the base portion and rear cover portion 206 is positioned surrounding and conforming to the rear portion of the base.

As seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, second logo 266 becomes prominently displayed upright and front facing during this embodiment's primary display mode. Additionally, as with the first embodiment, the external surfaces of cover portions 204 and 206 may be made more ornamental or of a more impressive material that the remaining surfaces of the box. These external surfaces of the cover portions may be more luxuriously embossed with a decorative pattern, such as leather-graining or texturing, may be painted, may be plated or covered with a material with is more decorative or gives an impression of expense. As these surfaces remain most prominent during the various display modes and in fact hide the remaining surface to varying degrees during the various display modes, they eliminate the need to similarly decorate the remaining surfaces and allow less expense in the manufacturing of base portion 202 that might otherwise be required to obtain an equivalent ornamental effect in a box of a differing configuration.

As seen in the figures, cover portions 204 and 206 serve both as a protective cover during storage and as ornamental dress during display. And either logo 260 or second logo 266 is upright and prominently displayed during storage and display.

In summary, a box according to the invention and the exemplary embodiments is;

-   -   a) Capable of securely encasing and protecting the item during         storage and shipment;     -   b) Adapted for being easily and consistently opened, closed and         reopened in a manner that does not damage the box or require         unpacking and repacking of the item;     -   c) Configured to impressively display the item when opened;     -   d) Adapted for numerous display configurations according to the         intended manner of display;     -   e) Attractive in its storage mode and all of its display modes         without distracting from the attractiveness of the displayed         item;     -   f) Equipped with a means which is properly oriented and         positioned to show the source of the items to prospective         purchasers at a glance, whether the box is in the storage mode         or any of its display modes; and     -   g) Equipped with simple and positive means for maintaining the         box it its storage mode when not being used to display the item.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled. 

1. A box for storing and displaying an item comprises: a panel forming a protective horizontal top cover during a storage position and forming a vertical face during a display position, said panel comprising a tab that is horizontally disposed centrally atop the box during said storage position and vertically disposed centrally atop said side face during said display position.
 2. The box of claim 1 wherein said display position is a first display position and said panel further forms a second display position wherein said tab is disposed at an upward and forward angle during said second display position.
 3. The box of claim 1 further comprising a base portion having a chamber for containing the item wherein said panel is affixed to said base portion and movable relative thereto between said storage and display positions, and wherein said chamber is exposed during said display position.
 4. The box of claim 3 wherein said base portion comprises an arcuate groove and said panel comprises a post engaging said groove and slideable there-within to guide the movement of said panel relative to said base portion in an arcuate path.
 5. The box of claim 4 wherein said panel comprises a front portion and a rear portion, separable from said front portion; said front portion forming said ornamental front face during said first display position; said front and rear portions both affixed to said base portion and independently movable relative thereto; wherein said post is a first post comprised of said front portion; and wherein said rear portion comprises a second post engaging said groove, and said first and second posts are both slideable within said groove to guide said movement of said front and rear portions relative to said base portion in opposing arcuate paths.
 6. The box of claim 5 wherein said tab is disposed on one of said front and rear portions and comprises a connector for connecting said front and rear portions during said storage position.
 7. The box of claim 6 wherein the other of said front and rear portions comprises a magnet; said connector is magnetically attracted by said magnet; and said front and rear portions are connected magnetically during said storage position by the attraction between said magnet and said tab.
 8. The box of claim 7 wherein said tab comprises an emblem having an upright orientation during said display position.
 9. The box of claim 8 wherein said emblem comprises a logo indicative of a source of the item, said logo having an upright and forward-facing orientation during said display position.
 10. A method of storing and displaying an item in a box, the box comprising a base portion and a panel affixed thereto, said method comprising: placing the item into a chamber of the box; disposing the panel over the chamber to form a protective horizontal top cover of the box during a storage position; sliding the panel along an arcuate path relative to the chamber to expose the chamber and form a vertical face of the box during a display position; wherein said panel comprises a tab that is horizontally disposed centrally atop the box during said storage position and vertically disposed centrally atop said face during said display position.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said display position is a first display position and the method further comprises sliding the panel along the arcuate path relative to the chamber wherein the tab is disposed at an upward and forward angle during a second display position.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein said sliding comprises sliding a post associated with the panel within an arcuate groove associated with the chamber to guide the movement of the panel relative to the chamber in the arcuate path.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the panel comprises a front portion and a rear portion, separable from said front portion and the method further comprises; sliding the front portion forwardly along the arcuate path relative to the chamber to expose the chamber and form a vertical front face during the display position; and sliding the rear portion rearwardly along the arcuate path to expose the chamber during the display position.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the tab is disposed on one of the front and rear portions and comprises a connector for connecting the front and rear portions during the storage position, and the method further comprises connecting the tab to the other of the front and rear portions to maintain the front and rear portions atop the chamber during the storage position.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the other of said front and rear portions comprises a magnet and the connector is magnetically attracted by the magnet; and the method further comprises magnetically connecting the tab to the magnet to maintain the front and rear portions atop the chamber during the storage position by the attraction between the magnet and the tab.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the tab comprises an emblem having an upright orientation; and wherein the step of sliding comprises disposing the emblem in its upright orientation.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the emblem comprises a logo indicative of the source of the item, the logo having an upright and forwardly-facing orientation; and wherein the step of disposing the emblem in its upright orientation comprises disposing the logo in its upright and forwardly-facing orientation.
 18. A box for storing and displaying an item and comprising: a base portion comprising; a horizontal bottom panel and upstanding front, rear, left and right panels; said upstanding panels rigidly affixed to said horizontal bottom panel in a rectilinear arrangement to form a cavity for containing the item; said upstanding left and right panels each comprising an arcuate upper edge and each having an arcuate groove disposed on an external surface adjacent to and parallel to said arcuate upper edge; a front cover portion comprising; a horizontal front top panel and downwardly extending front face, front left and front right panels; said downwardly extending front panels rigidly affixed to said horizontal front top panel in a rectilinear arrangement; said downwardly extending front left and front right panels each comprising an inwardly directed front post; a rear cover portion comprising; a horizontal rear top panel and downwardly extending rear face, rear left and rear right panels; said downwardly extending rear panels rigidly affixed to said horizontal rear top panel in a rectilinear arrangement; said downwardly extending rear left and rear right panels each comprising an inwardly directed rear post; wherein said front and rear cover portions are affixed to said base portion by said front and rear posts being captured within one of said arcuate grooves such that each of said cover portions is slidable relative to said base portion independently of the other of said cover portions along an arcuate path along said arcuate upper edges.
 19. The box of claim 18 wherein one of said front and rear cover portions further comprises an emblem having an upright orientation, and said emblem is disposed in said upright orientation as said one cover portion is slid along said arcuate path.
 20. The box of claim 19 wherein said emblem comprises a first connector portion and the other of said front and rear cover portions further comprises a second connector portion and wherein said first and second connector portions cooperate to selectively affix said front and rear cover portions. 